Contents
Cashews are the fruit of the Anacardium occidentalis tree, also known as the Indian walnut. It grows in Brazil. This country is his home. Trees are grown artificially in Africa, India, Asia, Iran, Azerbaijan.
Cashew nuts are the only ones in the world that ripen on the outside of the fruit. They are distinguished by a unique composition, which includes a list of almost all vitamins and microelements known to man. In addition, Brazil nuts, as cashews are also called, are a source of monounsaturated fats, esters and phytosterols. Its regular use in food allows you to normalize metabolic processes in the body, increase libido, strengthen the cardiovascular system, stabilize the hormonal and psycho-emotional background.
What does cashew look like and how does it taste?
In our latitudes, cashew remains one of the most expensive types of exotic nuts. The thing is that it is not possible to grow it in Russia and European countries. Despite this, cashew occupies a leading position among lovers of dried fruits and nuts due to its delicate taste and invaluable benefits.
Edible is the kernel, which is hidden under a rough shell. The average weight of one nut is 1,5 g. It has an elongated shape that looks like a comma.
The taste of the nut is sweet, oily with light hints of vanilla. After consumption, the nut does not leave a specific aftertaste. Thanks to this unusual combination, cashews are eaten as an independent product and added to various dishes.
A little history of the cashew tree
The name “cashew” came to us from Portugal, where the nut was exported in huge volumes from its historical homeland – Brazil. This fact contributes to the fact that the plant and fruits are called Brazil or tree nuts. Cashew trees stay green all year round. In places of natural growth, their height reaches 30 meters. Surprisingly, with such dimensions, the tree has a rather short trunk. The branches are very long, because the crown is striking in its size – it is so spreading that it can reach the same dimensions in diameter as in height. The tree resembles a huge green ball.
Brazil is home to the world’s only cashew tree, which has grown to more than two hectares of land. The fact is that in a plant of the Piranji variety, the lower branches bend to the very ground and germinate into the soil with roots. The tree in question was planted at the end of the 19th century and in 130 years it has reached an incredible size.
Cashew leaves are leathery, shiny, rich green. The shape resembles an oval or an egg. The size of the leaves can be different – from 4 to 22 cm in length and from 2 to 15 cm in width. Cashew flowers are not particularly attractive in appearance – small yellow-pink, rather faded, but very fragrant. They form numerous inflorescences in the form of panicles up to 20 cm long. In Brazil, the flowering of cashew trees occurs twice a year, and in India – three times a year.
8-9 weeks after fragrant flowering, unusual fruits up to 12 cm in size appear. Their color depends on the cashew variety and can be yellow, red or orange. The shape of the fruit is a cross between a pear, apple and paprika. They look like fruits, but are pseudo-fruits. Locals who grow cashews use these fruits for food. Pseudo-fruits have a juicy, but dense, fibrous structure and are distinguished by a specific sour-astringent taste. Juices, jams, all kinds of tinctures are prepared from them or eaten raw.
The real fruits, which we call cashew nuts, appear at the end of the “cashew apple”. They are covered with two shells – inner smooth and outer, dense, rough. Hidden inside this natural package is a delicious kernel that can weigh up to 12 grams.
How does cashew grow?
The historical homeland of cashews is Brazil, but the plant also feels great in India, Vietnam, Iran, Southeast and West Africa, and Azerbaijan. The largest plantations are located in Vietnam – 1/3 of all nuts in the world are harvested here. In general, about three million tons of cashews are produced during the year.
The tree on which the nut grows is evergreen. An artificially grown trunk can reach a height of 15 m, and in its natural habitat it reaches 30 m. The crown is spreading, flowering occurs from 1 to 3 times a year.
When the flowers wither, bright yellow and orange-red fruit buds form in their place. They are better known as cashew apples. Their flesh is juicy and aromatic. In Brazil, cashew apples are eaten, compotes and juices are made from them. After some time, a nut is formed at the end of each “pseudo-fruit”. This is the true fruit of the tree – cashews. Outside, the nuts are covered with a green shell containing a high concentration of poisonous phenolic resins. The edible fruit is right below it.
Harvested nuts are subjected to processing, which ensures the preservation of taste. The process takes place in a certain sequence:
To begin with, the seeds are dipped in boiling water for 30 minutes. This helps harden the top shell and makes it easier to remove.
At the second stage, cashews are placed in special drying cabinets with a temperature of 70°C. After that, the inner shell is exfoliated.
The sorting step is mandatory to separate the nuts by size and weight.
Glazing or flavoring is not a mandatory step, but it is quite acceptable to create a certain type of product.
Packaging.
When choosing cashews, look for whole nuts that last much longer. Never eat dried or moldy kernels. Cashews are poured into a container, tightly closed with a lid. In this form, they can be stored for about 3-4 weeks. If you put the container in the refrigerator, the shelf life is extended to 6 months. Cashews can be frozen, which retains its beneficial properties for up to 12 months. It is important to remember that high temperatures cause the release of oil, which gives the nut a bitter taste.
Why are cashew nuts not sold in shell?
The dense cashew shell is inedible, moreover, it contains toxic substances. Phenolic resin and cardola are aggressive compounds that cause chemical burns. Workers who harvest nuts always use gloves, and before starting work they receive special instructions on how to follow safety rules.
The cashew shell is used for the production of adhesives, emulsions, rubber, so that all the constituent elements of the nut are consumed with virtually no waste.
[Video] How and where cashews are harvested and processed: